El fantasma de papá

Ghost Dad is one of those movies that has that sort of corney cheesy feel to it, but is very entertaining and fun. I remember watching this as a kid on TV and the one part that always stuck in my mind was when Elliot (Cosby) is done getting his life insurance physical, and he's walking down the hall and his face and hands are gone, and his sun glasses and hat are floating above is body. That's always been my favorite part in the movie, just because it had freaked me out as a little kid. Well, over 10 years passed, and I finally saw the movie again. Needless to say, that part looked a lot different than I remember it. The part where he goes 'through' the bus, and when he falls though the floor are other parts that I remember pretty well too. Anyway, I definitely recommend this movie. The only part I can see a problem with around younger kids is when he comes through the phone, and chokes the guy, and used the 'b' word a couple times.

Buy it, rent it, or watch it on TV. Either way, you'll like it!

Bill Cosby hasn't had much luck in his movie career, which may explain this (not unsuccessful) attempt to carry his familiar middle-class-family-man TV image over to the big screen. In the film he plays a single, somewhat neglectful father of three children who learns a few belated lessons in parenthood after a fatal taxi ride turns him into a reluctant ghost. Of course he can only be seen in darkened rooms, which leads to a lot of ectoplasmic slapstick and some predictable puns ("…over my dead body!") The film is strictly sit-com material, but at the same time is too undemanding to warrant any real criticism, and under Sidney Poitier's slick, superficial direction it moves quickly to a happy ending, with the help of a few clever (if economical) special effects. It might, however, have an unexpected side effect on a younger audience: having a dead dad is made to seem such fun that some kids might begin to want one themselves.

This is a fun family movie, but the plot isn't solid. This movie left me with a lot of questions. What was up with the cab driver and who does he think he is? Why did Stuart threaten his best friend's father? That's pretty bold of him to do that. Why at one point, could Elliot talk weird in one part and talk normal in another? Also when the company comes over to visit, it's day time, and some minutes later, when Stuart calls, Elliot went to his house and the sun was already down long ago. That reminds me, if Stuart threatened me like that, he would have his bratty self have the police called on. And, not all was resolved in the end. Elliot lost his job, Danny lost a friend of his, and Diane lost a potential boyfriend. Still, nevertheless, Elliot's extremist and eccentric behavior was definitely funny. Though plagued by errors, this makes for a good family film and is better than Home Alone 4.

I happened to really like this film. Bill Cosby did a good job acting (as always). And the other supporting actors/actresses also did quite well. I really got into the movie and felt for the characters. I was also quite happy with the ending. I felt it was well-deserved. So, if you want to see a movie that has heart and will make you feel good about life, rent "Ghost Dad" (or you can catch it on tv every once in a while).

This movie is probably the worst I have ever seen, and I saw both of the Problem Child disasters. Bill Cosby, a normally competent TV actor fails here as does the rest of the cast--most of whom have a serious lack of acting skills (especially the daughter in the hospital scenes.) The writing is childish, nose-wrinklingly weak and so boring I found myself wondering who put up the money to actually produce this monstrosity. The end, which is supposed to be touching, is the only enjoyable part because the credits are soon to roll. Personally, I'd be embarrassed to have my name appear in connection to this cinematic mistake.